Average Movie Ticket Price Down From Holiday Highs

The cost of going to the movies in the United States declined slightly during the first three months of 2013, the National Association of Theatre Owners said Monday.

Tickets cost an average of $7.94 during the first quarter, the exhibition trade group said. That was down from $8.05 during the holiday season, when a plethora of 3D releases, such as "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" carried a $3 to $4 surcharge and made going to the movies a more expensive proposition.

Overall, the average cost of taking in a film in 2012 was a record $7.96.

The first three months of the year were a rough one for the domestic film industry, which saw box office revenue slump 12 percent with only a few films like "Identity Thief" drawing big crowds to the multiplex.